Water-meter



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. T. TRAVIS.

WATER METER.

(No Model.)

Patented Sept. 12, 1882.

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(No Model.)

` 2- SI-1eets-Sheet 2. W. T. TRAVIS.

WATER METER.

No. 264,375. Patented Sept. 12, 1882.

W1TNEssEs: i INVBNTOR ATTORNEYS ATeNT FFICE.

WILLIAM`T. TRAVIS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

WATER- M ETE R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters `Patent No. 264,375, dated September 12, 1882.

Application led May 5, 1582.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. TRAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in VVater-Meters, of which the following is a specification. 1

This invention consists in a water-meter wherein the liquid acts ona detached reciproeating plunger fitted intoa hub centrally of an oscillating diaphragm,which is arranged in the meter-casing and operates induction and eductiou valves toadmit and discharge the water alternately on opposite sides of the diaphragm, and wherein a reversing mechanism operates to release the plunger and permit it to fall at its leading end by gravity, in both strokes thereof, for giving motion to the diaphragm, and wherein the plunger aetuates a registering mechanism, as hereinafter more fully setiorth.

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section. Fig. 3 is a vertical central cross-section. Fig. 4 is a cross-section ot' the diaphragm on the line w x, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe registering mechanism, and Fig. 6 is a detached view of one ot' the valveseats.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

The letter A designates the meter-casing, which is cylindrical in its horizontal section, as shown in Fig. 2, and diverges toward the opposite ends in its vertical section, as shown in Fig. l, to permit the required motions of the plunger, hereinafter explained. The opposite ends ot' this casing are closed by removable heads B, and at about midway between the ends thereof are transverse coincident openings C to admit the diaphragm and concomitants.

(No model.)

diaphragm is a circular opening, fv, having a ring or cylinder, u, upon its edge, forming a. hub, and into this hub is fitted the plunger E, the latter heilig' left detached from any other part and sliding freely in the huh.

lThe letter F designates the induction-valve, and G the eduction-valve, each composed of a disk having two series of ports, ts, and both fixed to the diaphragm concentric with the segments I)'namely, at the opposite ends of the diaphragm. It is'preferred to cast the valves F Gr, as well as the hub u, in one piece with the diaphragm, and the point at which the valves are applied to the diaphragm is between the said two series of valve-ports t s, as shown in Fig. 4. The letters H I denote two disks or plates, forming seats for the valves F G. These valve-seats are arranged side by side with the valves, respectively, and abut against the edges of the case-openings C by means of anges formed thereon, they beingv held in position bycaps J, which are secured to the casing by awater-tight joint. Pivots m are arranged in the valve-seats for centering the valves.

To the caps J respectively are connected a water-supply pipe, K, and a water-discharge pipe, K', one corresponding to the inductionvalve and the other to the eductionyalve.

In the valve-seats H I are two series of ports, p o, which are adapted to register alternately with the valve-ports 15s-that is to say, when one series of ports of either valve and seat register the other series of the same valve and seat are out ot' registration. The arrangement Y of the two series of ports of either valve and seat, moreover, is such relatively to the other that the Valves open ou opposite sides of the diaphragm-namely, by means of the ports-in the working of the apparatus, as indicated in Fig. 2. I

Projecting from thediaphragm inopposite directions are two rods, L L', and within the casing are two steps or catches, N N', for supporting such rods. These steps are respectively hung on a pivot, e, and subjected to the action of a spring, e', or a weight, having a tendency to bring and retain the saine in a vertical position while they are arranged near the opposite ends ot' the casing in position to be displaced by the plunger, each step, moreover,

IOO

being provided with a set-screw, q. When the and supporting-steps, and the desired purpose' plunger is in the compartment A of the casing, as shown in the drawings, the ports t ofthe induction-Valve and the ports s of the eduction-valve register with the appropriate ports of the valve-seats, to admit water to the compartment A and allow its discharge from the compartment A2 while the rod L of the diaphragm rests on the step N. The water entering the compartment A displaces the plunger, forcing it toward and into the compartment A2, and when the plunger meets the step N, which isv the end of one of its strokes, it pushes the step back against the action of its spring or weight a sufticient distance to clear and release the tree end ot' the rod L. In this manner theV leading Yend of the plunger is permitted to ta-ll by gravity, and it thus changing its position or angle, the plunger acts on the valves F G through the medium ofthe diaphragm D to reverse the valves. The water now enters the compartmentA2 and discharges from the compartment A', while the rod L takes its position on the step N, and when,by the action of the water, the plunger has been brough t to theend of the ensuing second stroke, it displaces the step N, and, falling, again reverses the valves. rJhe plunger then moves in the direction tirst named, and so on as long as the tlow of water continues. I'n one stroke ot' the plunger E it acts on a pawl-arm,0, (see Figs. l and 5,) which is mounted on an arbor, c, carrying a cogwheel,f, to connect with a train ot gearing arranged to form a registering mechanism. The pawl lo of the pawl-arm engages a ratchet-wheel, b, fixed to the arbor o, to impart a step-by-step motion to such wheel, and from the pawl-arm extends a link, l, whereby it is connected to a pivoted returnweight, Z', the whole being arranged in the top of the meter-casing. Supplementary heads 19 are secured to the opposite ends of the plunger, for its action both on the steps N N and the pawl-arm O of the registering devices, and stops a, arranged on the bottom of the easing in the path of these heads, serve to prevent an excessive motion Iot' the plunger.

1t should be remarked that valves independent ofthe diaphragm, butin engagement therewith, can be used instead of the disks F G; also, that other reversing mechanism can be devised and used in lieu ot' the reversing-rods can be attained by making grooves of suitable shape in the sides of the meter-casing and providing the plunger with studs to engage the grooves. The registering mechanism, moreover, can be modified as circumstances may render expedient.

The diaphragm, plunger, and valves herein described can-also be applied with suitable modications to steam-engines, and l reserve the right to make such feature the subjectmatter of a separate application for Letters Patent. 'Y i What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the meter-casing, the oscillating diaphragm having a central hub, the induction and eduction valves arranged on opposite sides ot' the casing in engagement with the diaphragm, the detached reciprocating plunger fitted into the diaphragm-hub,

the reversing mechanism operating to automatically release and permit the leading end ot' the plunger to fall by gravity in both strokes thereof', and the registering mechanism arranged to be actuated by the plunger.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, ot' the meter-casing, the induction and eduction valves, each composed of a disk having two series of ports, the oscillating diaphragm having the disks iixed to it between their said two series ot ports, the valve-seats having two series of ports adapted to register alternately with those of the disks, the detached reciprocating plunger, the reversing mechanism, and the registering mechanism.

3. The combination, substantially as hereinhefore set forth, otl the meter-casing pliniger, the oscillating diaphragm, the rods projecting from the diaphragm, the steps for supporting such rods, arranged to be displaced by the plunger, the induction and eduction valves, and the registering mechanism.

In testimonyT whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM T. TRAVIS.

Witnesses:

W. HAUFF, Unas. WAHLERs, 

